Talons lose QB, game

Updated 7:11 am, Saturday, May 25, 2013

QB Nick Hill stepped in without practicing with the Talons and threw four TDs against Tampa Bay.

QB Nick Hill stepped in without practicing with the Talons and threw four TDs against Tampa Bay.

Photo: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Talons

Talons lose QB, game

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The Talons lost another quarterback Friday night. Losing to the Spokane Shock, however, felt much worse.

The Talons, down by 19 points after three quarters, managed to pull within six points twice in the final 15 minutes before eventually falling 61-48 before 7,961 fans celebrating Military Appreciation Night at the Alamodome.

D.J. Stephens' two fourth-quarter kickoff returns for touchdowns, both out of his own end zone, fueled the Talons' hopes. But Spokane headed off the challenge behind the league's second-ranked offense.

The Shock (7-3), in winning their second straight game, scored three TDs in the final 15 minutes, including a decisive score with 44 seconds remaining after a failed Talons onside kick.

Spokane quarterback Erik Meyer, continuing a spectacular season, was 23 of 29 for 255 yards and seven touchdowns passing with one interception, against the league's third-ranked defense. He added two rushing TDs.

The Talons, for the third time in four games, could not record a sack.

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The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the National Central Division-leading Talons (4-5), who are now 1-4 at home.

With 6:21 left in the first quarter, the Talons lost another starting quarterback when Nick Hill went down, holding his left leg, after being flushed out of the pocket. He didn't return.

Backup Xavier Lee, a former Florida State starter, became the sixth player to take a snap at the position for the Talons this season. He finished 22-of-48 for 237 yards and four touchdowns. He had one costly second-half interception in the end zone.

The Talons' defense, which came in surrendering only 253.4 yards per game, yielded 100 in the first quarter alone. Meyer, who had rolled up 2,671 yards and 63 touchdowns in the first nine games, was 13 of 15 for 165 yards and four scores by halftime, leading the Shock to a 34-21 lead.